Reality Therapy Techniques and Applications

Reality therapy is a practical, present-focused talking therapy. It was developed by William Glasser, an American psychiatrist.¹ It is built on his choice theory, explained below.²

Sessions focus on the present, not mainly on your past.² The aim is to help you take responsibility for your choices.² From there, you plan small, workable changes.

This page covers choice theory, the WDEP steps and the techniques used in sessions. It also sets out what the research shows and how to check a therapist's training. A shorter introduction is at reality therapy explained.

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Choice theory: the idea behind reality therapy

Choice theory starts from a single premise. We can only control our own behaviour. Our power to control other people is limited.¹

Glasser used the term external control for attempts to force change in others. Reality therapy teaches people to avoid using external control.² The focus moves instead to the choices you can make now.

Choice theory is sometimes described as internal control psychology. The name marks the shift from controlling others to guiding yourself. Reality therapy turns that idea into a method for change.

The WDEP framework

Most reality therapy sessions move through four steps, known as WDEP. The letters stand for Wants, Doing, Evaluation and Planning.

• Wants: What do you want from your life, your relationships and this situation? Vague wishes are made specific here.
• Doing: What are you doing at the moment to move towards those wants?
• Evaluation: Is what you are doing working? You judge this yourself, honestly, rather than being judged. Self-evaluation is the main skill the approach teaches.
• Planning: Choose one small, specific change to act on this week. Good plans are realistic and easy to check.

The steps repeat over time. A plan that fails is information, not proof that you failed. You evaluate what happened and plan again.

Techniques you may meet in sessions

Reality therapists are active and direct. Alongside WDEP, several techniques come up often.

• Direct questioning. Short questions such as "What do you want?" and "Is it working?" prompt honest self-evaluation.
• Action plans. Written steps that turn a goal into something you can do this week.
• Behavioural contracts. A simple written agreement about what you will try, reviewed together at the next session.
• Role-play. Practising a difficult conversation in the session before you have it in real life.

What the work looks like in the room

Published session outlines show how these techniques are used in practice. In one eight-session programme, early sessions teach the five basic needs in choice theory² and focus on current behaviour.

Middle sessions compare the desired world with the real world, and the behaviours created to satisfy those desires.² The desired world is what a person wants their life to look like. Later sessions cover the concept of external control and its destructive role in intimate relationships, including seven destructive habits and seven love habits.²

The closing session examines how to meet basic needs through the four main questions of reality therapy.² Plans are then reviewed and summarised. You carry them on yourself.

The method has limits. It asks you to look at your own part early, which some people find confronting before trust has built. When a plan keeps failing, a skilled therapist looks with you at what the plan missed, rather than setting the same plan again.

What the evidence says

One open-access trial is set out below in enough detail to weigh it. Open-access means the full paper is free to read. It is a small study. The findings are early.

Researchers in Iran offered reality therapy to 15 women living with infertility.² The programme ran for eight sessions of 90 minutes each.²

After the sessions, measures of sexual satisfaction and marital intimacy had improved.² The gains were still present at follow-up.² Follow-up here means the team measured again some time after the sessions ended.

One small trial cannot show that a therapy works for everyone. Studies cited in the same paper also looked at anxiety.² Discuss with a qualified professional whether this approach fits your situation.

Two further small studies

A randomised controlled trial studied group reality therapy for adolescents diagnosed with ADHD and oppositional defiant disorder.⁴ In a trial of that kind, people are put into the treatment group or the comparison group by chance. Oppositional defiant disorder is a name for a lasting pattern of angry, defiant behaviour towards adults.

The intervention group showed a statistically significant difference on hyperactivity and conduct measures.⁴ That group was given the therapy. Statistically significant means the difference was unlikely to be down to chance, not that it was large.

A separate study examined choice theory education for happiness and self-esteem in university students.⁵ Across these studies the samples stay small and the settings specific. Together they amount to early, promising evidence rather than an established evidence base.

Where reality therapy is used

Choice theory is also used outside therapy. The Glasser Institute has trained counsellors, coaches, leaders and educators since 1967.¹

Its programmes reach schools, workplaces, and community and behavioural health services.¹ In schools, the focus is on building students' responsibility for their own learning.¹

William Glasser International connects certified practitioners across many countries.³ Its event calendar lists events from the United States to Australia.³

Strengths and limits

Reality therapy suits people who want structure and practical steps. Each session works towards something you can do differently.

It also asks a lot of you. Looking at your own part in a problem can feel uncomfortable at first. Long-standing habits usually take several rounds of planning to change.

The approach gives your past less attention than some other therapies do. If you need to make sense of earlier experiences, a different approach may fit better. A therapist can help you weigh this up.

Finding a reality therapist

Reality therapy has its own training routes. William Glasser International offers an internationally recognised certification in this approach.³ The Glasser Institute also trains and certifies practitioners.¹

Ask a prospective therapist what training they have in choice theory and reality therapy. Check too that they are registered with the professional body in your country. That body differs from country to country.

Our guide to finding the right therapist covers what else to look for.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of problems does reality therapy address?

People often bring relationship difficulties, feeling stuck, or school and work problems. Published trials include work on relationship wellbeing, adolescent behaviour difficulties, and student wellbeing.

How do I know if reality therapy is right for me?

It may suit you if you want a practical, present-focused way of working. You also need willingness to examine your own choices. Raising your goals with a therapist is a good way to start.

Can reality therapy be combined with other therapies?

Yes. Many therapists blend approaches to fit the person they are working with. One might use cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety, and reality therapy for decision-making.

What should I expect during a session?

Expect respectful but direct questions about what you want and what you are doing. Most sessions move through the WDEP steps and end with a plan. Some include practice, such as role-play.

How long does reality therapy take?

There is no fixed length. In research, courses of eight sessions of 90 minutes have been studied.² Your therapist should review progress with you and adjust as needed.

How can I prepare for a first session?

Think about what you want to be different, in concrete terms. Note one or two recent situations that show the problem. Expect direct questions, and answer honestly rather than giving a tidy version.

This article is for general information and is not a substitute for professional assessment or care. If this is affecting your life, consider reaching out to a qualified mental health professional.

References

1. [1] Glasser Institute for Choice Theory. William Glasser Institute (official, US), 2026.
2. [2] The effectiveness of reality therapy on sexual satisfaction and marital intimacy of infertile women. open-access trial (PMC), 2022.
3. [3] William Glasser International. William Glasser International (official), 2026.
4. [4] A Randomized Controlled Trial of Group Reality Therapy in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Oppositional Defiant Disorder in Adolescents. Iranian Journal of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (open access).
5. [5] The Effectiveness of Choice Theory Education on Happiness and Self-Esteem in University Students. Practice in Clinical Psychology, 7(3), 207-214 (open access).